Ex-Cavite lawmaker, 4 escorts charged over shootout

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Police filed yesterday criminal charges against former congressman Plaridel Abaya and his four bodyguards, including two policemen, for Monday afternoon’s shootout that left two people killed and a policeman wounded in Bacoor, Cavite.

Chief Superintendent Rolando Añonuevo, Calabarzon police director, said Abaya, PO2s Eduardo Fernandez and Rolito Antazo, former Marine Lauro Geronimo Jr. and Neil Obillos were charged with direct assault, violation of the Omnibus Election Code, frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms.

Añonuevo said Abaya and his bodyguards are now under the custody of Senior Superintendent Primitivo Tabujara, Cavite police director.

He said he has formed a special task force led by Chief Superintendent Aaron Fidel, Calabarzon police regional director for administration, to dig deeper into the case and identify other supporters of Abaya also involved in the 15-minute shootout in front of a police station.

Añonuevo said Abaya, his supporters and security escorts on board three vehicles stormed the police station to rescue other followers who were earlier arrested for alleged vote buying.

According to Fidel, Abaya’s group headed by retired colonel Arnulfo Obillos, his son Neil Obillos, Geronimo, Fernandez and Antazo held three policemen – SPO1 Ricardo Poblete, and a certain SPO1 Dinglasan and PO2 Casalme – hostage and forcibly took their M60 and M-14 rifles and patrol jeep.

Poblete managed to escape and sought help from the Bacoor police, resulting in the firefight.

Fidel said Obillos and Paraiso were killed on the spot while Fernandez and Antazo were nabbed. Abaya gave himself up to authorities.

Añonuevo has ordered the administrative relief of Superintendent Ramil Montilla, Bacoor police chief, and Chief Inspector Christopher Olazo, commander of the Cavite provincial public safety company, and nine of his personnel. 

Añonuevo said police recovered from Abaya’s group three M-16 rifles, two caliber .45 pistols and 20 boxes containing thousands of envelopes with cash amounting to P1.125 million, four motor vehicles, and the guns and patrol jeep taken from the three policemen who were held hostage. – With Michael Punongbayan